The Western World Daily Readings on Geography Chapter 54 Europe Urban Geography I

CHAPTER 54 Europe Urban Geography I The Primate City Created by from Noun Primate mammals include human beings however , a primate city , though populated by human beings , is named for mammals , but instead the term refers to the word primary meaning singular and dominant . Thus , a primate city dominates its country in all urban ways . should be evaluated to consider whether or not a country is likely to have a primate city . First , does the country have a large population ?

If yes , this decreases the probability that one city dominates the country urban population , for a large population provides sufficient numbers of people to populate many large cities . Second , does the country have a large area ?

If yes , then this too decreases the probability that one city dominates the country urban population , for a large area provides sufficient territory to develop many large cities . Third , does the country have a long history of urbanization ?

If yes , then again the probability of a primate city decreases , for there has been enough time for many cities to form and grow in size and importance . If a country has none of these three characteristics , then it will not have a primate city . If it has one of these three characteristics , then it might have a primate city . Two ofthree , probably a primate city . 260

EUROPE URBAN GEOGRAPHY I 261 Three of three , guaranteed a primate city . Let consider these factors in regard to Europe . First , do European countries have large populations ?

The most populated country in Europe is Germany with about 83 million people is only the largest country in the world . Note that we are not counting Russia in Europe . Despite this rank , we will credit a large population . million France 65 million Italy 60 million Spain 47 million These are the top four countries in Europe , by population size . In contrast , there are many countries in Europe with small populations Netherlands 17 million , Sweden 10 million , Austria million , Ireland million , million , and so on . Second , do European countries have large areas ?

The largest country in Europe is France . Again , not counting Russia in Europe , but also counting Ukraine in the Russian Domain . Turkey does not yet belong in Europe . France square miles is smaller than that of Texas at square miles . While Texas is a very large state compared to the average American state , it would not count as a large country . Thus , we can say that no country in Europe is particularly large . Third , does Europe have a long history of urbanization ?

Given that urbanization is associated with industrialization and that Europe is the birthplace of industrialization , we can say that most of Europe indeed has a long history . Europe as a whole measures at 74 urban . Belgium leads the way with a 98 urban population . After assessing these characteristics that cause primate cities to arise , we make another check to determine if the primate city is present . Does the largest city have significant percentage of the country urban population ?

A reasonable threshold would be 15 of the country urban dwellers living in just one city and dwarfing any other city . So , do European countries have single cities with over 20 of the country urban population ?

Let take a look at the figures for metropolitan areas . Athens million 11 million , tripling . Belgrade million of million , Sad . Budapest million of Hungary 10 million , dwarfing 237 thousand . Copenhagen million of Denmark million , Dublin million of Ireland million , nearly Cork . million of Finland million , London 14 million of England 67 million , Birmingham . million of Norway million , Bergen . Paris 12 million of France 65 million , but dwarfing Lyon million . Prague million of 11 million , 210 thousand of Iceland 360 thousand , dwarfing . million of million , 10 . Sofia million of million , 544 thousand .

262 JOEL QUAM AND SCOTT CAMPBELL Stockholm million of Sweden 10 million , 540 thousand of million , Vienna million million , million of million , Split . This is not an exhaustive list of primate cities in Europe , but clearly this is the pattern . European countries typically have primate cities . Only Germany counts as having a large population . None of the countries count as having a large area . A few of the countries are considered to lack a long history of urbanization . Thus , most countries will have one of our determining factors , while Germany has two of these three factors . While these are the noted national characteristics primate cities themselves are typified by other elements . Primate cities are the political capital cities . Primate cities are the cultural foci of their respective countries . The economic center of the country is the primate city . The primate city dominates the country urban life in all ways . Ask someone to name a city in France and their first thought will be Paris . Indeed , Paris clearly is the primate city of France , dominating it as the capital , the cultural core , and the financial center . However , in terms of the magnitude of primacy , Paris is not the leader in Europe . Budapest degree of primacy in Hungary is greater than Paris degree of primacy in France . Notably absent from the list of countries with primate cities are Germany and Poland . Berlin million of Germany 83 million , Hamburg . Paris France Photo Germany population is too great to have a European primate city . To meet the 15 threshold , Berlin would need to have a population of million . Additionally , Berlin does not dwarf Hamburg , the second largest city . Warsaw million of Poland 38 million , To meet the 15 threshold , Warsaw would need to have a population of million . It does not dwarf , the second largest city . The list of European countries without clear primate cities also includes , the Netherlands , Belgium , and Portugal , to name a few . Did You Know ?

The United States clearly does not have a primate city . New York is the financial center and the largest city . Washington , is the political capital . Los Angeles lays claim to the cultural focus . Chicago and Houston have large populations as key cities . The United States has a large population , a large area , and a long history of urbanization . Thus , it has none of the three characteristics used to generate primate cities . In fact , the United States follows the Rule . Go to the essay on the Rule in Russia for a parallel to this topic .

EUROPE URBAN GEOGRAPHY I 263 CITED AND ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY . 2015 . Primate Cities Languages Of The Languages Of The World . June 12 , 2010 . Tower . Generic ( Andy . 2019 . Countries Where Much ( or Most ! Of the Population Lives in One City , like , Japan , and Greece . Business Insider . November , Population Reference Bureau Inform , Empower , 2019 .